USC is the first team in history to have a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and running back (Leinart and Bush) in its backfield. Every USC offensive starter may eventually play in the NFL. Young may be better than all of them. He's averaging 8.6 yards per run and completing 63.9 percent of his passes.

The Longhorns say Young's contributions can't be measured in numbers alone. He is the player they rally around. His competitive fire and will to win have gotten Texas football to a place some fans thought it might never be again.

Young believes this is his time, and because he believes so passionately, his teammates believe, too. Leinart and Bush think the same thing.

Game has it all

Sometimes, every decade or so, a game comes along that has so many stars, so much talent and so much magic that it's almost impossible to predict an outcome. Carroll spoke this week of reminding his players that, in the end, it's just another game.

''This is an extraordinary gift that we've been given as football guys to have a chance to play," he said. ''I'm not going to approach this one any different than any game I've ever been involved in. I hope our team doesn't, either."

This is one of those moments that define players and coaches and programs. This is the game Brown began hearing about the moment he arrived in Austin eight years ago.

''You never know how your team will respond to a stage like this," Brown said. '' ... So many times teams in this setting try to be someone they're not because they do want to win so badly that they start taking on a personality that they think they have to have. Our team is good enough to win if we are just us."

Texas has won two undisputed national championships. One was in 1963, the other in 1969. Texas fans have been expecting one almost every year since. The Longhorns got close in 1977 and 1983 but weren't even a contender when Brown was hired.

He was charged with restoring the luster to a program that had lost plenty. This week, in a large and wonderful symbol, he was joined by former UT coach
Darrell Royal
.

Royal won both of those undisputed national titles and had 11 Top 10 finishes during 20 years at Texas. Brown's predecessor, John Mackovic, hadn't been close to Royal. Brown made Royal part of Texas football again.

This is Royal's moment, too. It was he who urged Texas to hire Brown eight years ago.

''I think we've found our man," Royal said after Brown's original interview.

Indeed, Texas had found its man.

Brown's teams have finished in the Associated Press Top 10 in four of the last five seasons. Now it's about finishing the deal. Brown jokingly thanked reporters Tuesday morning for picking USC to win.